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First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Paddling Championships Scheduled for February 28, 2003

The First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA State Paddling Championships will be held Friday, Feb. 28 at Ke`ehi Lagoon Beach Park and new perpetual trophies awarded to the winning crews.  A total of 62 Hawaii high schools will compete for the titles of HHSAA Varsity Boys, Varsity Girls and Varsity Mixed Champions. 

“We are proud to be the sponsor of the HHSAA State Paddling Tournament,” said Don Horner, president of First Hawaiian Bank.  “Athletics have a positive impact on students.  In particular, the traditional Hawaiian sport of canoe paddling teaches our children teamwork.”

Now in its second year statewide, over 2,000 students participated in high school outrigger canoe paddling programs.  It is the sixth largest high school sport in the state.

“We are very pleased at the high level of participation statewide and its popularity among female student-athletes, which represent nearly 60% of the students paddling,” said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. 

New, perpetual trophies donated by master woodworker and canoe builder, Wright Elemakule Bowman, Sr., will be presented at the award ceremony.  A trophy will be awarded to the varsity boys, girls and mixed winning crews in the HHSAA State Paddling Tournament.  Mr. Bowman, along with Sam “Steamboat” Mokuahi, initiated the movement to provide canoe paddling in Hawaii’s high schools in 1965.  The trophies are named after Mr. Bowman, a living legend in the canoeing community.

“I am so pleased that canoe paddling is now an official high school sport,” said Wright Elemakule Bowman, Sr.  “It is an honor to recognize Hawaii’s students as they perpetuate Hawaiian culture through participating in our state sport.”

The first preliminary begins at 10:00 a.m. as the Varsity Boys kick-off the HHSAA competition.  Sixty-two high schools teams from the OIA, ILH, BIIF, MIL and KIF will compete “head to head” to advance to the finals and a chance to become an HHSAA Champion.  The finals are expected to begin at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The HHSAA State Paddling Championships are coordinated by the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (HCRA) and Na Opio Canoe Racing Association (N.O.C.R.A.).   HCRA is a statewide, non-profit organization, which supports the statewide high school program through its affiliate member, N.O.C.R.A.  For over 25 years, N.O.C.R.A. has provided a community-based program for children and has sponsored the public high schools program since 1998.

HHSAA State Paddling Championships Schedule
Friday, Feb. 28, 2003

Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semi-Finals
9:45 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies
10:00 a.m.:  Races begin

Finals
3:00 p.m.: (approximate time)

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